The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-04-07
More partizan Work.

We had thought Senator Mccormick |
would have been satisfied with xtreme
partizan work in the enactment of the
Mccormick Anderson electoral
bill-a measure that no impartial, fair
minded citizen of Virginia can defend.
But in this impression it seems We have
been mistaken. We fed in the Richmond
correspondent of the Baltimore Satn, of
the Slst, the following reference to anoth-
er indefensible proposition Of the Clarke
county Senator:
"A bill was introduced in the Senate to-
day by Mr.. Mccormick, Of Clarke. which
is intended to make the State Senatorial
District formerly represented by Senator
Riddle berger Democratic. AT present IL
is composed of Shenandoah and Page
counties, and is the tenth district. Mar.
Mccormick proposition is to take the
large Democratic county Of Frederick
from the twelfth and substitute 1t Tor the
doubtful county of Shenandoah. This
would make both districts Democratic for
the contest this year, and increase the
representation of that party in the Senate
one.
The object of the bill is simply to dis
franchise the Republicans of the Page
Senatorial district and perpetrate an act OF
| Injustice upon the people of the whole
State by effecting partizan representation
in the Legislature which fair expression
Of the popular vote would not admit. But
the Senator may miscalculate as to the re-
suits. He does Lot appear to recognize
the true condition of public sentiment in
Virginia, and that the people are wearing
party trammels with great deal OF indlf-
ference, if not disposition to throw them
off altogether. The gerrymander of the
Congressional districts for the purpose OF
giving the Democrats eight districts, Ger
tainly. and the Republicans only two, was
of apiece with the spirit and purpose OF
the proposition to change the boundaries
of the Page Senatorial district. Yet al
the last election the people reyolte(
against the plan. and instead OF eigh
Democrats. that party at the last election
secured only three members of Congress
Does the Senator not see in this that ;
sense Of fairness and justice is taking hole
of the voters of the State, and that the
nicely laid schemes of partizan manipula
tors cannot always command popular
: support 1t is possible the change indi.
Gated in Mr.. McCormick's bill may be
m ade. but it is by no means certain tha
= the end sought to be obtained 4ill b.
. reached. The intelligent voters CT tn
r Com menwealth have been surfeited wit
that kind Of legislation. They know tina
: it has resulted in great harm to the Stat
: that it has placed in power party tina
| is dominated by a spirit inconsistent wit
: tie public welfare-that has driven ava
Y capital and enterprise-stagnated bushes
: and proven an obstruction to progress an
? prosperity. Such insane partiz snism ha
: been the curse of Virginia, and it wi
: prove the overthrow, if not destruction, Q
: the Dem ocratic or ally other party tina
: will support and encourage it. Those VIII
s instigate and enact it may congratulate
S themselves for season, but like all othe
g excuses. the time for reaction is sure
+ come. There is nothing in it that is Ell
r during-that appeals to a sense of rigt
d and justice-that will wear when passio
has cooled and the higher obligations {
citizenship assert themselves. Were V
r to consider this proposition of the Cial
d Senator merely from paTtizan standpoir
e we could not say that 1T was matter {
d regret. 1t only shows the desperate ex
:, geneies of the partizanism he represents
g exposes an inner consciousness Of veal
e ness. and that it requires unworthy de
e vices to arrest the current of public ser
" timent which has manifested itself az
d yersely to the Democratic party. The pet
S pie, in their calm anG deliberate moments
J. are just, and will rebuke at the ballot-bol
d any such detesta BILE subterfuge to circuu
u vent the popular will.